Health workers at Mayuge Health Center IV have revealed that they are compelled to charge expectant mothers C-section fees due to insufficient government supplies at the facility.
The fees, ranging from 250,000 to 300,000 Shillings, are collected from mothers in need of C-sections to address the shortage of essential resources, primarily anaesthetic drugs and post-recovery medication for patients after the procedure.
Speaking anonymously, several health workers explained that a significant number of mothers enroll for antenatal services during the late stages of pregnancy, complicating the maternal processes and leading to an increase in C-section cases, exacerbated by the scarcity of government supplies.
An undisclosed midwife shared that, before the COVID-19 era, they faced high maternal mortality rates due to a lack of necessary supplies for C-sections.
To address this, superiors conducted assessments and directed willing patients to purchase required supplies from pharmacies, a practice not officially sanctioned by the Ministry of Health but proven to be time-saving.
The midwife emphasized that this practice contributed to saving lives, reducing maternal mortality to just one case registered last year due to the inability to access emergency C-section services.
Another health worker highlighted the challenge of handling close to 200 teenage mothers last year, many of whom were not physically ready for normal delivery.
C-sections not only ensured the successful delivery of live babies but also provided a better maternal experience without the complications associated with natural childbirth.
Deputy facility in-charge, Jamir Wangubo, acknowledged that despite the facility’s upgrade to level IV three years ago, they still receive supplies suitable for a health center III. This limitation makes it impossible to meet the needs of the growing catchment population, including over 25,126 patients and 1,200 pregnant mothers annually.
Wangubo disclosed that out of the 1,200 annual deliveries at the facility, 360 require C-sections. Due to inadequate resources for completely free government services, the facility adopts an indirect cost-sharing model, where medical supplies are purchased, and doctors perform the surgery.
He explained that National Medical Stores-NMS delivers supplies every two months to accommodate 20 mothers, but the facility handles 120 within the same period. Under these circumstances, 19 mothers receive free services, one set of medication is reserved for emergencies, and the remaining 101 mothers have to pay for the required services every two months.
Wangubo added that in cases where mothers cannot afford the supplies, they are referred to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital for further management to prevent the potential loss of the mother, the baby, or both.